Vladimir Putin Displays Syrian Rebel Savagery (Video)

I know that since September 1, 2001, it has been popular to be blindly patriotic. I have laughed at meaningless bumper stickers such as “the power of pride,” which has no meaning. If it did it would mean America is weak, because pride is an emotion, and emotions make us weak. When Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, showed films displaying the savagery of the Syrian rebels, some Americans said it was propaganda, or not a true example of their cause.

I hate to agree with the leader of another nation, and discount the words and actions of my own, but the truth must be told.

Is the Assad government bad for the people of Syria? Of course it is. But would the rebel forces be better? I don’t believe so.

The rebels are not to be represented as ‘freedom fighters.’ They consist of criminals, kidnappers, and thugs. They are Islamic extremists who support al-Qaeda, and will never be allies of the United States. If we follow hawks such as John McCain, we will be in another unwinnable war in a few months.

In two days, Putin is to meet with the President. Obama claims that Assad has ‘crossed the line, using chemical weapons against the rebels.’ That is still in question; there is no proof about which side used illegal weapons. Because of this ‘red line,’ Obama said he will supply arms to the rebels. Bad idea. Any involvement by the United States in the Arab world is filled with negative results.

Putin showed videos of actions by the rebels, which have been watched on ‘You-tube’ thousands of times.

“I believe you will not deny that one should hardly back those who kill their enemies and eat their organs. … Do you want to support these people? Do you want to supply arms to these people?” Putin asked, speaking to reporters in London after meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Admittedly, the video was posted in May by loyalists of Bashar al-Assad. But, when John McCain visited the rebel camp recently, at least two of the men in the staged photographs taken were kidnappers, identified by one of the victims.

Putin said those actions do not represent the “humanitarian and cultural values” of Europe or Russia.

“If we speak calmly, in a businesslike fashion, let me draw your attention to the fact that Russia supplies arms to the legitimate government of Syria in full compliance with the norms of international law,” he said. “We are not breaching any rules and norms. Let me emphasize that: we are not breaching any rules and norms, and we call on all our partners to act in the same fashion.”

He makes a legitimate point, whether Americans like it or not.

To what advantage would the United States supply weapons or other assistance to the rebels? We assisted the governments of South Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq, and what was the benefit to America? It was quite the opposite. Death and financial destruction was the outcome.

David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom told the press:

“I’m in no doubt that responsibility lies with President Assad. It is the onslaught that he is inflicted on his own people which is the primary cause of the suffering, the humanitarian catastrophe and the deaths we have seen,” he said. But he failed to acknowledge whether or not he would ask parliament to provide weapons to the militants.

Putin did not entertain the idea of a ‘no-fly’ zone over Syria.

U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes also addressed the matter Friday when he was asked how difficult it would be to establish a no-fly zone.

“In Syria, when you have the situation where regime forces are intermingled with opposition forces, they’re fighting in some instances block by block in cities. That’s not a problem you can solve from the air,” he said.

Will American Imperialism spread to another country, a country controlled by anti-American Islamic forces? The display by Putin of rebel savagery should restrict the United States from making any type of hasty action.